1917-] Ornithologij of Malta. 3-t9 



scarce. Schembri says that they are abundant in September, 

 March, and April, but do not remain here for more than 

 one month. Wright states that they are common in spring 

 and autumji, but arrive a little later than the Martin. 

 The local name, which is an equivalent of the Latin, has 

 been suggested by the Hon. Dr. Magro. 



146. (92) Riparia rupestris (Scop.). The Crag-Martin. 



Local name : Hawwiefa tal blat. 



Schembri says that this species is rather common both in 

 April and September. Wright, in his ' List of the Birds of 

 Malta,"* says that he had never met with it. In the first 

 appendix to his list, however, he states that he met with it 

 in Gozo in December 1864, when he saw several individuals 

 On the 26th of January, 1865, he also observed it, and again 

 on the 20th February of the same year; he also says that about 

 the same time he came across a specimen in the Valletta 

 Market. In his second appendix he records one taken in 

 Gozo by Dr. Adams on the 28th of February, 1864, and 

 another obtained by him on the 8th of March of the same 

 year. In his fifth appendix he again records the species, 

 saying that he had seen several specimens in Gozo on two 

 successive days at Chi'istmas-time 1873. In my 'List of the 

 Birds of Malta ' of 1915, 1 gave this species as one of doubtful 

 occurrence, and must confess that I had overlooked the 

 observations made by Wright ; I must add, however, that, 

 though I have looked for the species most diligently, 1 have 

 not yet succeeded in seeing a single specimen. The local 

 name given is a translation of the Latin, and has been 

 suggested by the Hon. Dr. Magro. Of the two local names 

 given by Giglioli and Blasius, one does not distinguish the 

 species from its congeners, the other is not in use. 



[To be continued.] 



